Analyzing Lead Time Reduction In The Rice Supply Chain Using Promodel Simulation: A Case Study Of Subur Jaya Rice Milling, Bekasi

Abstract

The efficiency of the rice supply chain is strongly influenced by lead time, particularly in activities related to raw material supply and paddy drying. Long waiting times in these processes can disrupt material flow and limit production capacity. This study aims to analyze the lead time of the rice supply chain at Subur Jaya, based on direct observations and interviews with rice milling personnel. A simulation model was developed based on actual operating conditions, covering the processes from paddy delivery by suppliers to rice distribution to customers. The results show that the activities contributing most significantly to lead time are paddy delivery from suppliers, which requires 14 days, and the manual paddy drying process, which takes 5 days. The simulation of the existing condition resulted in a total processing time of 587.99 hours, with a production capacity of 2.418 tons of rice per month. An improvement scenario was developed by increasing the frequency of paddy supply and replacing the manual drying process with a mechanical dryer. The simulation results indicate that the total processing time can be reduced to 208.47 hours, representing a reduction of approximately 64.54%, while production capacity can be increased to 4.836 tons per month. The reduction in processing time is primarily attributed to decreased waiting time in the drying area. The use of a mechanical dryer reduces dependence on weather conditions and enables a more stable and predictable material flow, while shorter queues allow paddy to enter the milling process more quickly. These findings demonstrate that improvements in drying technology and supply management can significantly enhance rice supply chain efficiency and provide substantial operational benefits compared with increasing production capacity solely at the milling stage.